CERN’s BASE collaboration achieved a breakthrough in antimatter research by maintaining an antiproton in a quantum superposition between spin states for nearly 50 seconds - marking the first-ever demonstration of an antimatter qubit[^1].

Using electromagnetic Penning traps, researchers controlled a single antiproton to oscillate smoothly between spin “up” and “down” states, like pushing a playground swing in perfect rhythm[^1]. This coherent quantum control allows for testing fundamental physics theories with unprecedented precision.

The achievement enables 10-100 times more accurate measurements of antiproton magnetic moments[^1], helping investigate why matter dominates over antimatter in the universe - a key mystery in physics. According to BASE spokesperson Stefan Ulmer, “This represents the first antimatter qubit and opens up the prospect of applying the entire set of coherent spectroscopy methods to single matter and antimatter systems in precision experiments”[^1].

A new system called BASE-STEP will transport trapped antiparticles to magnetically calmer environments. Lead author Barbara Latacz notes this could extend spin coherence times “maybe even ten times longer than in current experiments, which will be a game-changer for baryonic antimatter research”[^1].

[^1]: CERN - A quantum leap for antimatter measurements